Posted on 02/25/2011 8:25:01 AM PST by wontbackdown
Please listen to this song and critique it - what are your opinions?
I like it... did you write and perform?
The music sucks, half the words cannot be understood, and she doesn’t sing she whines.
Don’t kill the messenger, you asked me to listen.
Well, it’s not bad. Can’t understand the words and it repeats too much, but really not bad.
The vocals are good.
The melody is ok.
But there is no ‘hook’ to the song.
It sounds like a lot of songs already out there.
It needs something ‘different’ to make it stand out.
And repeating words doesn’t help much.
A song should tell a story that flows continually.
JMHO
Not so good, but I changed my mind about the song when I listened to RJ’s version. Maybe things have changed, but my husband (the song writer) was once told by a record company that they don’t like songs with the word “heaven” or “God” in them unless they are Gospel songs, and they don’t do Gospel.
“they don’t like songs with the word “heaven” or “God” in them unless they are Gospel songs, and they don’t do Gospel.”
Well, that record company is wrong.
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zepplin
Too Much Heaven - Bee Gee’s
Los Lonely Boys - Heaven
Angel - Madonna
Angel - Aerosmith
She talks to Angels - Black Crows
And that’s just a few.
Tell you husband to talk to another recording company, because this one doesn’t know what it’s talking about.
Oh yeah.. And one more
The Prayer - David Foster (Hitman)
He’s won 14 Grammys and I’m pretty sure he ‘records’ songs with ‘heaven’ in them.
And don’t forget “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton. Back to “Heaven in Your Arms” by My Brave Love - I appreciate all comments, whether positive or negative. Not to influence anyone’s opinion, but just as a point of reference - this song won honorable mention in the Billboard World Song Contest. Thanks for the comments so far, and hopefully there will be more!
Criticism is good. Or more precisely. Advice.
It helps you to understand what to focus on and enables you to build up confidence in your ability.
I know of many composers and song writers, including myself, that listen to advice from others, whether professionals or just ‘fans’ of other music.
It helps you to better understand what direction to take your music and how to present it to others.
Most times, the simpler the song, the better.
Look at all the one or two chord songs that are out there and you begin to understand that simplicity is the best road.
I used to write songs starting with the music first.
Then I changed and started writing poems or prose and then set it to music.
Each way has it’s own advantages and disadvantages.
But for me, writing the words first helps me to see which direction the music should go.
“this song won honorable mention in the Billboard World Song Contest.”
That’s an encouraging sign.
Just keep going!
Like I said, it may have changed as that was a long time ago. It was a major record co. in Nashville. We thought it was a pretty lame excuse even back then. Hubby had one song that made top 40 in Ala. in 77.
Almost the entire class gave one of the stories thumbs down and the other story a thumbs up.
Turned out that the thumbs down story was written by John Updike and the thumbs up story was written by the teacher's college-age son.
Actually, all the most popular tunes seem to have the same four chords.
Thanks for sharing, that was a very interesting experiment. I did not write this song, but I am a good friend of the songwriter. I have submitted other songs of hers to be critiqued in different forums and what usually happens is that the song is ripped apart for not conforming to a pre-ordained format. Maybe I just think outside the box in these matters but to me if you can’t have a good song without plugging it into a cookie-cutter template, that indicates a lack of talent in my opinion. It’s like musicians - some can’t play a note without sheet music and others can play anything they hear in any key without reading a note. And it’s usually the sheet-music only players who look down their noses at those who can’t read it but can play it with expertise (like Stevie Ray Vaughan, for example). Although he was such a genius I can’t imagine anyone looking down their nose at him. Some songs actually write themselves - and the songwriter is merely taking dictation. There’s a lot to be said for inspiration. In the end, it’s all very subjective - if you like the song and enjoy listening to it, then it’s a good song. If you don’t enjoy it it’s not a good song - at least not for you.
Depends on the genre.
But yes. Many of the popular songs do use the same basic 4 chord pattern.
That chord progression (I - V - vi - IV) worked for Pachelbel, and it's been going strong ever since.
The again, a lot of songs are based on the chord changes to "I Got Rhythm" - including this well-known TV theme.
Have you seen Jackie Evancho's rendition of The Prayer? It'll send chills up your spine, or make the tears roll down your face. She's one of DF's young proteges. She's also the youngest person to ever have a platinum album. Have a look:
Yes I have.
I’ve been following Jackie’s progress on YouTube since she put up ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ when she was only 8 years old.
There are three new songs up on YouTube by ‘papasmurfdad’ of her performance in Houston,TX
Go here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/papasmurfdad
You will be even more amazed!
Jackie is an absolute Angel.
Pretty good if you ask me. Quite catchy. Nice vocal, lots of nice guitar fills. Drums sounded like they needed to be compressed more. Guitar solo was a little too metal I thought. It should have been more pop. But overall good.
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